Immersive Learning at FAU’s Microbiome Innovation Cluster with Undergraduate Researcher Jon Declan

Senior Biological Sciences major Jon Declan was attracted to Florida Atlantic because of its first-rate reputation as an institution with a strong undergraduate research program. Since his freshman year, Declan has immersed himself in the world of research and gained valuable experiential learning opportunities along the way.

Declan was a founding member of the FAU Microbiome Innovation Cluster (MIC) established by Nwadiuto Esiobu, Ph.D., project director, professor of biological sciences, and director of the Esiobu Microbial Biotech Laboratory within FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. Esiobu appointed him to the assistant coordinator role, and he was responsible for helping plan outreach events and assisting other lab students with their projects.

The MIC is the first-of-its-kind in South Florida and aims to address the complex challenges facing traditional agriculture and declining interest of the next generation in food, agriculture and natural resources careers. MIC is supported by a $1 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to build capacity in Microbiome Innovation for “Plant Health, Soil Fertility and Environmental Sustainability.”

“It was a great experience, and the MIC helped broaden my appreciation and understanding for the complex systems that microbes play a crucial role in,” stated Declan. “The diverse set of projects allowed me to hone my interest and discover what I was—and wasn’t—interested in. In the end, the projects I was involved with helped me decide to pursue graduate school, not medicine.”

Because of his affiliation with the MIC Lab, Declan later landed a summer internship as a research agronomist at U.S. Sugar in Clewiston, Florida. The group he worked for was responsible for developing new sugarcane varieties for the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). In the field, Declan helped plant sugarcane seedlings, count sugarcane stalks, rate varieties, as well as learn a great deal about agronomy.

“I absolutely loved my internship. From working outside to my amazing coworkers, it was an incredible opportunity,” shared Declan. “I spent many days hot, sweaty, sunburned, and covered in bugs, but the experience was one-of-a-kind. I was in the trades before coming back to university, so having that blend of hard work and science really sealed my decision to pursue graduate school in a related field."

In the classroom, Declan is a stellar student. He’s part of the University Honors program for Biology, a LEARN Research Program alumni, and a recipient FAU’s Undergraduate Research Grant. He’s also thankful for his mentor who inspired his academic interests.

“Dr. Esiobu became my mentor when I was in her General Microbiology course,” said Declan. “Her lectures filled me with an interest and passion about a subject that I wasn’t expecting. Getting to have hands-on experience with multiple projects, her invaluable mentorship, combined with my role in the MIC, strengthened me as a researcher and student.”

After his anticipated graduation in summer 2025, Declan plans to become an entomologist who specializes in pest management and disease vectors. He intends to pursue both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in related fields.